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Break out the calendars, it's time to think about how to make the most of September. September is what I call a 'bridge' month -- the early part of the month is still 100% summer, even if the kids are back to school. By the last weeks of the month, the mornings are decidedly cooler, and aii, it's getting dark so early already! In September, summer turns to early fall, some times overnight. Food-wise, it's the same. Early in the month, be sure to get your fill of tomatoes and eggplants and even peaches because too soon, they'll be gone for another year. Later in the month, aii, the apples and the potatoes and the peppers and and and!
Slow-Roast Tomatoes Start here, stop here. If you've got time for just one easy but oh-so-rewarding food activity in September, roast tomatoes -- and by roasting, I don't mean putting them into the oven for a measly hour or even two, I mean slow-roasting tomatoes, make that sllloooooooooow roasting tomatoes. There's just no other way to bring out the most incredible flavor, tomatoes that transform into something else entirely. In 2005, I experimented with 15 batches of slow-roasted tomatoes, taking notes, then published the perfect combination of tomato varieties, oil, herbs, time and temperature for my best and final recipe for slow-roasted tomatoes. What to do with slow-roasted tomatoes? Kalyn has collected dozens of ways to use slow-roasted tomatoes. I promise, you'll be glad you did!
Get Your Tomato Fill So sad, the tomatoes will soon be gone for another year. But it's not too late to gorge on tomatoes. Matt Bites has ten ideas for heirloom tomatoes, beauties that they are. I also love this Cherry Tomato Clafouti from Dinner with Julie and Tomato Jam from Andrea's Recipes and the No Cook Tomato Sauce from The Way the Cookie Crumbles.
Host an Ice Cream Party in the Backyard! This time, no ice cream processor required, just a few freezer bags and a lot of kid-sized energy. What's Cooking shows you exactly how to make ice cream in a bag.
Curl Up with Julia Child So we've all seen Julie & Julia, yes? Lots of cooks walk out of the movie wishing there were less Julie and more Julia. If so, PBS has collected the Julia Child TV programs on video. Curl up with Julia, a half hour at a time -- pearls not required but recommended -- and then make crepes inspired by Julia and Baking Bites, French Ham, Cheese and Egg Crepes with step-by-step instructions.
Discover New Potatoes Visit the farmers market, see if you can find new varieties of potatoes, leaving behind for now the familar Yukons and russets. You might try Roasted New Potatoes, inspired by Taste Food.
Visit an Apple Orchard Grab the family, grab some friends and pack up for an afternoon at an apple orchard. Leave the windows down on the way, smell the new fall air, watch for the purple-yellow-white profusion of asters and other fall flowers along the roadsides. Taste different varieties, learn the differences between good eating apples and good cooking apples. Bring home enough apples to make homemade applesauce and a big jug (or two! and let one begin to 'turn' over the next few weeks) of unpasteurized apple cider.
School Lunches Who's settled into the school lunch routine rut? Perhaps now's the time, while the year's still fresh, to look outside the (lunch) box for brown-bag inspiration? Or if you're out of the school-lunch business, maybe, like Cora Cooks, you can bring back some sweet memories through a Little Red Barn Lunchbox?
Tail Gate! High school football is in full swing, but it's defies me why tailgating is confined to college and pro football. You could even 'tail gate' while watching episodes of the great TV show Friday Night Lights on Hulu.
Stuff It! The oven comes back on, for sure, more easily in September than in hot-hot August. Have you stuffed peppers, yet, stuffed an eggplant? stuffed a zucchini? It's easier than you might think and so impressive looking!
Food Festivals Local food festivals are scheduled each and every weekend during the fall months. They can be a great way to check out Greek food, Thai food, other international specialties. St. Louis hosts a beer 'n' brat fest. What's up in your community?
And you?
And you, what's your favorite fun and healthy food activity this month? Leave an idea,
